History Film / Mothra

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Zenichiro manages to defeat four of Nelson's mooks ''by himself'' and even tells them, "Now you know why they call me 'Bulldog!'" Later, when Mothra destroys a dam, a couple trying to escape the flood waters inadvertently leave their baby on a bridge that's about to be destroyed. Zenichiro, without a moment's hesitation, runs out onto the bridge, grabs the baby, and brings the child to safety just in time.

The four survivors of a shipwreck are discovered to have been unaffected by the radiation on Infant Island due to the berries offered by the island natives. When this story breaks, the European country of Rolisica and Japan co-sponsor a scientific expedition to Infant Island. They encounter the natives and two tiny women called the Shobijin, who plead for the halt of atomic testing near the island. The crew acknowledges this, and returns home sworn to secrecy. But the greedy Rolisican Clark Nelson secretly returns to kidnap the Shobijin and exploit their singing abilities for profit. Our heroes manage to contact them, who are confident their goddess Mothra will save them but fear that innocents would get hurt. The Shobijin can't be rescued through legal channels and their connection to Mothra is ignored as she lays destruction upon Japan...

* BerserkButton / BewareTheNiceOnes: As mentioned below, Mothra is usually very peaceful. But, [[BewareTheNiceOnes she won't hesitate to unleash her full wrath]] upon ''anyone'' who dares to harm/kidnap her fairy companions.

* EasilyForgiven: Despite causing so much destruction and killing many people, the humans seem to be quite happy with letting her go back home with her Shobijin. Heck they even waive goodbye to her like a friend.

* KarmaHoudini: Interestingly, Mothra is actually one. She literally caused so much damage and killed thousands of people in her quest to save the Shobijin. Yet, the humans are perfectly content with letting her go free without her or the Shobijin answer for what has happened. Of course, had Nelson not exploited the Shobijin in the first place, she would left everyone alone.

* LighterAndSofter: This is perhaps Ishiro Honda's first kaiju film that isn't dark by any means. However the villagers being gunned down, not so much. However, it does end in a lighter note.
* MacabreMothMotif: Inverted, Mothra is a symbol of peace and hope.
* MamaBear: Never mess with Mothra's fairy friends

* ObviouslyEvil: Nelson constantly has a [[SmugSmiler smug]] evil grin on his face, it's hardly a surprise when he turns out to be evil.

* TooDumbToLive: Nelson keeps the girls prisoner for his show despite the fact a giant monster is barreling towards Japan and even when his own country demands he release the girls, he still holds them hostage and goes on the run. He even shoots several cops when they come to take them.

* VillainousBreakdown: Nelson gets one when he's surrounded by ''very pissed off'' civilians of Roliscia. Yeah, you should listen to the Japanese and not hold that IdiotBall, moron. Otherwise a giant moth will chase you at the ends of the earth until you release the Shobijin.

* KarmaHoudini: Interestingly, Mothra is actually one. She literally caused so much damage and killed thousands of people in her quest to save the Shobijin. Yet, the humans are perfectly content with letting her go free without her or the Shobijin answer for what has happened.

* KarmaHoudini: Interestingly, Mothra is actually one. She literally cause so much damage and killed thousands of people in her quest to save the Shobijin. Yet, the humans are perfectly content with letting her go free without her or the Shobijin answer for what has happened.

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Meta Example- While this film is beloved by many Godzilla and Kaiju fans, it's main problem is that it's overshadowed by the more famous ''Film/MothraVsGodzilla'' (1964).

* MacabreMothMotif: Inverted, Mothra is a symbol of peace and hope. Battra, the evil moth on the other hand...

* EasilyForgiven- Despite causing so much destruction and killing many people, the humans seem to be quite happy with letting her go back home with her Shobijin. Heck they even waive goodbye to her like a friend.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Mothra sinks an ocean liner maned Orion Maru, despite it only being in the way.

* {{Expy}}: Infant Island is the closest Toho ever got to their own [[Film/KingKong Skull Island]]. The story itself is closer to ''Film/KingKong1933'' than any other Toho Kaiju film -- including, interestingly, ''Film/KingKongvsGodzilla''.

* EarlyInstallmentWierdness: Mothra sinks an ocean liner maned Orion Maru, despite it only being in the way.

* BigApplesauce: New Kirk City's an obvious stand-in for it.

* LighterAndSofter: This is perhaps Ishiro Honda's first kaiju film that isn't dark by any means. However the villagers being gunned down, not so much. Hoewever, it does end in a lighter note.

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Zenichiro manages to defeat four of Nelson's mooks ''by himself.'' Later, when Mothra destroys a dam, a couple trying to escape the flood waters inadvertently leave their baby on a bridge that's about to be destroyed. Zenichiro, without a moment's hesitation, runs out onto the bridge, grabs the baby, and brings the child to safety just in time.

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Zenichiro manages to defeat four of Nelson's mooks ''by himself'' Later, when Mothra destroys a dam, a couple trying to escape the flood waters inadvertently leave their baby on a bridge that's about to be destroyed. Zenichiro, without a moment's hesitation, runs out onto the bridge, grabs the baby, and brings the child to safety just in time.

* BerserkButton: As mentioned below, Mothra is usually very peaceful. But, [[BewareTheNiceOnes she won't hesitate to unleash her full wrath]] upon ''anyone'' who dares to harm/kidnap her fairy companions.

* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Zenichiro manages to defeat four of Nelson's mooks ''by himself''.
** Later, when Mothra destroys a dam, a couple trying to escape the flood waters inadvertently leave their baby on a bridge that's about to be destroyed. Zenichiro, without a moment's hesitation, runs out onto the bridge, grabs the baby, and brings the child to safety just in time.

* DivineIntervention: The natives believe this. They have a ritual to help awaken Mothra, which includes a fertility dance by a young couple. Lots of people partake of a ceremonial drink and get ceremonially stoned.
** There is a [[http://chneukirchen.org/tmp/www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/2295/ website dedicated to Mothra's faith]] and other fans discuss the religion on forums.

* FakeNationality: The natives of Infant Island are obviously Japanese actors decked in the Polynesian equivalent of {{Blackface}}.

* PlayingAgainstType: This is the first film in which Haruo Nakajima (yes, the guy who played Godzilla in [[Film/{{Gojira}} 1954]]) plays a monster that's only destructive because it ''had'' to. His previous roles, being Godzilla and Rodan, are are just destructive by nature.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Nelson and his men were to have kidnapped [[TagalongKid Shinji]] and then flee with him as hostage to the mountains with the heroes in pursuit. However Mothra beats them to it trying to rescue the fairies, [[spoiler:and winds up killing Nelson herself [[DisneyVillainDeath by knocking him off a cliff]]]].

She is one of the most popular monsters in the Creator/{{Toho}} monster franchise. Whenever Godzilla is waning, Mothra is one of the classic monsters brought out to give a box office boost. She has been so popular that a [[DistaffCounterpart Spear Counterpart]] was featured in a trilogy in the late 1990s, called ''Film/RebirthOfMothra''.

She is one of the most popular monsters in the Toho monster franchise. Whenever Godzilla is waning, Mothra is one of the classic monsters brought out to give a box office boost. She has been so popular that a [[DistaffCounterpart Spear Counterpart]] was featured in a trilogy in the late 1990s, called ''Film/RebirthOfMothra''.

The four survivors of a shipwreck are discovered to have been unaffected by the radiation on Infant Island due to the berries offered by the island natives. When this story breaks, the European country of Rolisica and Japan co-sponsor a scientific expedition to Infant Island. They encounter the natives and two tiny women called the Shobijin, who plead for the halt of atomic testing near the island. The crew acknowledges this, and returns home sworn to secrecy. But the greedy Rolisican Clark Nelson secretly returns to kidnap the Shobijin and exploit their singing abilities for profit. Our heroes manage to contact them, who are confident Mothra will save them but fear that innocents would get hurt. The Shobijin can't be rescued through legal channels and their connection to Mothra is ignored as she lays destruction upon Japan...

** There is a [[http://chneukirchen.org/tmp/www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/2295/ website dedicated to Mothra's faith]] and other fans discuss the religion on forums.

Mothra is giant moth monster, who later became a common recurring character in [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Godzilla's]] films. Created when the {{Kaiju}} genre was still in its infancy, the 1961 ''Mothra'' wasn't dark and full of horror. In contrast, the film was colorful and had an air of fantasy about it. There's an influence of Western Christianity as well. Instead of ending with her death, Mothra achieves her mission and leaves on good terms. The actual villain is a greedy capitalist and tomb raider from the American and Russian stand-in, Rolisica.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Nelson and his men were to have kidnapped [[TagalongKid Shinji]] and then flee with him as hostage to the mountains with the heroes in pursuit. However Mothra beats them to it trying to rescue the fairies, [[spoiler:and winds up killing Nelson herself [[DisneyVillainDeath by knocking him off a cliff]]]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Nelson and his men were to have kidnapped [[TagalongKid Shinji]] and then flee with him as hostage to the mountains with the heroes in pursuit. However Mothra beats them too it trying to rescue the fairies, [[spoiler:and winds up killing Nelson herself [[DisneyVillainDeath by knocking him off a cliff]]]].

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mothra_1961_01_4886.jpg]] Mothra is giant moth monster, who later became a common recurring character in [[{{Godzilla}} Godzilla's]] films. Created when the {{Kaiju}} genre was still in its infancy, the 1961 ''Mothra'' wasn't dark and full of horror. In contrast, the film was colorful and had an air of fantasy about it. There's an influence of Western Christianity as well. Instead of ending with her death, Mothra achieves her mission and leaves on good terms. The actual villain is a greedy capitalist and tomb raider from the American and Russian stand-in, Rolisica.

* VillainousBreakdown: Nelson gets one when he's surrounded by ''very pissed off'' civilians of Roliscia. Yeah, you should listen to the Japanese and not hold that IdiotBall, moron. Otherwise a giant moth will chase you at the ends of the earth until you release the Shobijin.